Third-party group on Calif. ballot?

12/19/11 4:41 PM EST

Americans Elect, the non-partisan group trying to get on the ballot in all 50 states to run a third-party candidate in the general election, says it's been certified by California to be on the ballot in the Golden State.

The group filed more than 1.6 million signatures to get on the ballot, a huge feat and one that requires a fair level of organization.

It's also the 12th state that the group has gotten ballot access to. AE has been criticized for keeping its donors secret (since it's a 501c4 it doesn't have to release them) as it pushes for a more transparent political process beyond the bounds of the two-party system.

They have been struggling to get media traction, but securing a spot in populous, electoral college-important California may go a long way toward that.